HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



33 



tries. The ancient Mexicans made ufe of it in their 

 chocolate and other drinks which they made of the 

 cocoa. 



The Chia is the fmall feed of a beautiful plant, whofe 

 ftem is ftraight and quadrangular; the branches extended 

 in four dire(n:ions, and fjmmetrically placed oppofite each 

 other, with blue flowerets. There are two fpecies of it, 

 the one black and fmall, from which there is an oil drawn 

 admirable for painting ; the other white and larger, of 

 which they make a cooling beverage. Both were ufed 

 by the Mexicans for thefe and other purpofes, which we 

 ftiall mention hereafter. 



Of Chilli or great Pepper (^), which was as much in 

 ufe with the Mexicans as fait in Europe, there are at lead 

 eleven fpecies, different in their fize, figure and fliarpnefs. 

 The Quauhchilli, which is the fruit of a flirub, and Chil- 

 tecpin are the fmallefl, but alfo the mofl fliarp. Of the 

 Tomate there are fix fpecies, diftinguifhed by their fize, 

 colour, and tafle. The largeft, which is the XidlomatI 

 or Xitomatc, as the Spaniards of Mexico call it, is now 

 very common in Europe, in Spain, and France, under the 

 name of Tomate ; and in Italy, under the name of Pomo- 

 d'oro. The Miltomatl is fmaller, green, and perfedlly 

 round. How much both were ufed by the Mexicans at 

 their meals, fhall be mentioned when we treat of their 

 diet. 



The Xocoxochitl, vulgarly known by the name of Pepe 

 di Tabafco, from its abounding in that province, is larger 

 than the pepper of Malabar. It grows on a large tree, 



whofe 



(g) In other countries of America the Chilli is called Axi ; in Spain, Pimien 

 to ; in France, Poivre de Guinee, and by other names. 



Vol. I. E 



